Improvement in floating docks



T. J. WHEEDEN. FLOATING-Docx.

N:.181,0Z1.l

Patenter Aug. 15, 1876.

mmmmm arl/Ml N.FETERS. PMOTD-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n C

PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS J. WHEEDEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLOATING DOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 181,021, dated August 15, 1876; application filed i February 3, 1876.

.and State of New York, have invented a new l and useful Improvement in Means for Operating Floating Docks; and I do hereby declare that the-following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being A had tothe accompanying' drawing, which forms part ot' this specification.

My invention relates to that class of docks which are lowered into the water to receive vessels to be raised, and then raised, together with the vessels, topermit access to any part ofthe hulls ot' such vessels.

The invention consists in the4 combination, with such a dock, having an open bottom or suitable opening in its bottom, of an elevated water tank or reservoir, and one or more intermediate air-compression chambers,in which air is compressed by the water from said tank or reservoir, and from which the air so compressed is forced into the dock 'to displace the water from its interior, and so produce its tlotation.

l Figure l is a central, longitudinal, and vertical section. Fig. 2 is a central and vertical cross-section of the same.

D is the dock, having a chamber, C, iu the interior. vThe bottom b of the dock is preferably closed with the exception of an opening, O, in the center. The closed part of the bottom b is designed mainly for strength; but it assists in confining the contents ot the chamber G, so that, when said dock is tilted to one side, the contents of the said chamber G do not readily escape. Instead of one chamber, I may divide the interior of the dock .D into compartments communicating by passages -with the central opening O, or l may have more than one opening in the said bottom b for the passage of air and water alternately. rlhe dock has also a cock near its top for a1- lowing escape of air when it is desired to sink. A is a tank or reservoir, designed to hold water delivered into it by any suitable means. Said tank or reservoir A may be made open at the top, and it communicates by a pipe, P1, with an intermediate air compression chamber, B, placed between the said dock D and the said reservoir A. The pipe P1 has its upper end inserted in, or near to, the bottom of the reservoir A, and the lower end of the said pipe P1 is inserted into, or near, the bottom ot' the air-compression chamber B. The air-compression chamber has a cock inserted in, or near, its. top, to admit air when desired. The pipe P1 is also provided with a cock. In the bottom of the intermediate air-compression chamber B is formed an outlet, preferably a pipe, P2, also provided with a cock or valve. The air-compression chamber B communicates with the interior ot the dock D through the opening O by a pipe, P3, provided with a cock. The reservoir A and the aircompression chamber B are supported on a pier or wharf, W, by suitable frame-work, care being taken to have the height ot' water-column measured from the bottom of the air-compression chamber B to the bottom of the reservoir A somewhat greater than the height ot' a water-column measured from the bottom of the dock D to the surface ofthe water in which said dock is sunk, plus the height ot' a water-column measured from the bottom of the air-compression chamber B to the upper end ot' the pipe P3.

The dock D is moored alongside the Wharf W in such a way that the opening O will be over the lower end of the pipe P3, and will remain over the end of said pipe during its ascent. When sunk in the water to its lowest position, as shown in Fig. l, the said dock may rest upon suitable supports s.

The operation is as follows: When the dock D is sunk so as to rest upon the supports s, and the reservoir A is supplied with water, and the air-compression chamber B filled with air, the cock in the pipe P1 is opened, the cock in the pipe P2 is closed, and the cock in the pipe P3 is opened. The water then ilows from the reservoir A down through the pipe P1, and compresses and displaces the air in the air-compression chamber B, and said air being forced down the pipe P3 rises through the opening O into the interior of the dock D, displacing an equal volume of water from the interior ot' said dock. The cock in the pipe P1 is then closed, and the cock in the pipe P2 opened. The cock in the air-compression chamber B is also opened. Water will then ow out of the aircompression chamber B, and air` will flow into the same through the 000k in said air-compression chamber till itis again lled with air. The cocks in the air-compres sion chamber and the pipe l2 are then closed and the cocks ill the pipes PI and P2 opened. Water will again ow down through the pipe P1 and displace the air in the air-compression chamber B, which, issuing from the pipe P3, will enter the chamber C through the opening O, as before. The operation repeated as often as necessary finally fills the chamber C with air, and the dock rises, lifting Whatever load, placed upon it, its buoyancy is competent to raise.

By opening the cock in or near the top of the said dock D, the air will escape through the said cock from the chamber C, and water will fill the said chamber through the open- THOS. J. WHEEDEN, M. D.

Witnesses MICHAEL RYAN, FRED HAYNES. 

